here's what I have to say. If I want to feel like I can have fun and have a more style-over-speed ride, I'll wear lycra underneath baggies and a tshirt. If I want to go fast, I'll wear my full lycra kit. But if I stop at the pump track in the middle of my ride wearing lycra i just feel so out of place...

I'm a DH guy straight up, but to be perfectly objective, Lycra is 100% performance as it allows for pure freedom of movement. Regardless, I still wear TLD 100% of the time, just because that's our culture.

I thought a lot of people wore a set of spandex padded shorts under their normal riding shorts. Even my when I go to the park or to ride DH I do it. If you're not, you are seriously depriving yourself from a LOT more comfort when you ride, especially if you have to pedal up a lot. Heck, even unpadded compression shorts make a ride much more comfortable.

I honestly think that compression shorts + ben gey on your thighs, instead of usual underwear, will shave more time offtour DH or Enduro run than 650b could if it was true it actualy can. Taking a dump just before the ride as well, just wash it thoroughly, one missed seed from muesli that made it through the system in one piece can cause havoc on a 2h+ ride... Just sayin...

Lycra's good for pedal efficiency, minimises excessive sweat keeping you cooler at the same time, great for maneuvering on a bike where the saddle is way higher than a DH/FR/AM/DJ bike, and it's great with aerodynamics. As an XC rider if I didn't have to I wouldn't wear it. I also have baggies but I save them for days were I just want to chill on the bike, or go bar hopping on it. Lycra was not made to make you look good, it was made to make you perform better. Besides when you are racing XC it is so physical and mentally exhausting that the last thing you think about is the lycra. Of course when you are done riding you take em' off right away, no body wants to hang out looking like Tina Turner while having a beer at the bar, specially with your balls overheating and full of cheese...

Did 4 hours xc rides with my 661 D30 knee pads at 30c degrees. No heat, no chaffing. Not much meat on your knees and since it's a joint, it's usually a mess to heal up. Ain't no pro for sure but I feel a lot more confident with them.

Yes, and you'll never convince a pro rider to INCREASE the weight of their XC racing setup not to mention the UCI probably bans them anyway. Anything that can be added to a rider to give an aerodynamic advantage is out. Camelbaks (and other similar hydration packs) for example are banned if they're larger than 0.5L capacity (that's smaller than a standard bottle) as are helmet covers, socks of a given height, and more.

Oh, I know won't convince a XC pro to add weight to his setup and cut on his aerodynamics to increase protection when DH riders barely bother wearing any protective gear, that wasn't my point.

Interesting link you posted. I understand that they put up those rules so the best riders win instead of it being a technological warfare... but aren't those super strict rules about aerodynamism hindering the overall progression of the sport? And why would you allow the shift from alu to carbon frames/parts but limit helmet covers? Why more efficient drivetrains but limited sock length? Why limited camelback bladder sizes but 26", 27.5" and 29" can ride alongside while we're at it? This makes no sense. If they really wanted all riders to be on equal footing they should all wear the same gear and ride the same bike but this is obviously never going to happen. I can't make sense of this but then again I guess it wouldn't be the first time UCI rulings don't make any.